This article will provide a brief introduction of the world's major religions as well as their distribution throughout the world. It covers their Origins and Characteristics, Influence, Distribution, and Impact. It also discusses the major conflicts that have shaped and influenced their development. There are many resources available to learn more about world religions.
Origin
It is difficult to understand the origins of all world religions. There are many theories. Many theories claim that religions evolved from cults. Other theories believe that religions developed through the use myths. Animism or Fetishism was one of the first theories. Others claim that religions originated from hedonism.
Characteristics
While there are many similarities to the world's religious traditions, there are also many key differences. The early Christians were very different from their pagan counterparts in that they emphasized prosociality. This is a sign of early Christianity's importance to the golden rule, which has helped it stand out from paganism.
Influence
Religion is a key marker of identity, and it has the potential to influence numerous environmentally relevant behaviors. Understanding this influence is key to tackling transnational environmental challenges. Religions have a significant influence on many aspects of our lives, including how we view climate change and how we consume resources. It also influences how we pay for health care.
Distribution
The world's religions are scattered geographically. Christianity has the greatest concentration of believers. Next is Islam, representing nearly one-fifth world population, followed by Hinduism. Other religious groups include folk religions like the traditional African faiths, Native American and Australian aboriginal faiths. Many smaller, unorganized faiths exist such as Sikhism or Jainism. With an estimated 1.2 million non-religious people, the rest of the world is not religious.
Moral outlook
The outlook of a person is a key factor in determining their religious beliefs. Different cultures have different moral beliefs. This means that the outlooks of individuals can be very different. The modern West and modern Asia have different moral outlooks. We all have our own preferences, and we can justify them with neutral criteria. But we cannot declare that one moral outlook superior to another. Some believe certain moralities are better suited for certain communities and societies than others.
Engagement in environmental issues
Religious beliefs have had a number of influences on how people approach environmental issues. They can contribute their knowledge and experience through their extensive social networks and insight.